Chapter 7
Aiden hadn’t said much after Kyla left the dining hall. He had been so shocked by her comment about the person she loved leaving in the middle of the night. It had to be him, and the look he had seen in her eyes. It had been unmistakable to him, she was in pain. He had listened to the King’s apology for his daughter and accepted it. But what he really wanted to do was track her down, go up to her room and explain himself. However, that would be inappropriate.
He also wanted to ask the King or Colin who Kyla had been talking about. He was still afraid to hear the answer though, because maybe there had been someone else. It could have happened he had been gone for 5 years now. Aiden wondered if he was just hoping that she had been in love with him.
After all wouldn’t Colin or the King give him some insight if they knew that Aiden was the man? Instead he excused himself. “I’m sorry but I think I’ll go and help my parents out around their place for a while.” Aiden finally said.
“Sure, but don’t forget the feast will be later, so be sure to be here.” The King reminded Aiden.
“I will be here.” Aiden responded and then left.
He was not sure how he felt. He looked up to where he was sure her room was as he left the castle. She was in the window, but not looking out. Aiden stood there for a few minutes and stared up at her. He wanted to yell out to her, tell her how he felt. Eventually though he walked away and down to his parents’ house.
“What’s wrong son?” His mother asked him a little while later as he sat and looked out the window. “Do you miss being gone?”
“No mom, I’m wondering what would have happened had I stayed here instead of going off and joining the army.” He admitted to his mother.
“Well one thing is certain; Colin Fleming would be dead now if you hadn’t joined.” His mother commented.
“We don’t know that mother; someone else could have rescued him.” Aiden stated. “I’m not the only person who knows how to do that mother.”
“I think he would be dead. You know everything happens for a reason. Your reason for joining the army had to be this. I can’t say I was happy about you doing it, but now I know you made the right choice.” His mother stated.
Aiden wondered if his mother was right. She had always told him that things happen for a reason, and that we don’t always understand them. But if he would have stayed in town would he be married to Kyla now? Or was she talking about another man.
“Mother do you know if Kyla was ever courted by a man while I was gone?” Aiden finally asked. It was the perfect way to find out. After all he knew his mother loved to talk to the ladies in the village.
“No she never did. Though a few men did come in from other places and asked for her hand. Each time she would refuse the men. I heard she was waiting for someone to come back to town.” His mother stated.
“Who mother?” Aiden asked, tired of guessing at this game.
“Are you really that blind son? Do you not know that she cared about you for years?” She asked him.
“It can’t be me; I’m no one in the kingdom.” Aiden stated.
“Go and see her, tell her how you feel.” His mother said.
“She can’t marry me mother; you know I don’t have the rank for that.” Aiden said.
His mother shook her head. “Son, don’t you realize it doesn’t matter your title, if you love each other.”
“I don’t know if she loves me anymore though. If it was really me she felt for, her eyes said something else.” Aiden stopped and thought back to the look in her eyes both times he had seen her so far.
“Stop thinking and go talk to her.” His mother smacked him on the back of the head.
“Ouch, mother really?” Aiden asked rubbing his head at where she had popped him. “I’m going okay.”
Aiden put up his hands and went off to the castle. He wasn’t sure if she was right or not about Kyla, but why shouldn’t he take a chance. The worst thing that could happen now was she would laugh in his face. If that happened he would simply go back to the army and visit his parents from time to time, or even move them to him.
He was tired of not knowing. Aiden approached the castle and saw that she was still sitting in the window. This time he got her attention. “Please Kyla come down and talk to me.” He pleaded.
She finally left the window, and he hoped was on her way down to see him. Aiden waited for what seemed like forever before he saw her coming out of the castle. “Thank you for coming down.” He said.
“What do you want?” She asked, her eyes showing a hard coldness that he didn’t enjoy.
Aiden looked down at the ground and took a deep breath. “Look I should have let you know I was leaving when I did. But the truth was I couldn’t bear to see you before I left. I wouldn’t have been able to go away if I had to look into your eyes and say good bye.” He said.
“But why did you leave? Why didn’t you stay?” Kyla asked him.
“Well in all honesty it was because I knew you would never marry me. I wanted you and knew I couldn’t have you. If I would have stayed I would have had to watch another man marry you, it wouldn’t work well for me.” He said.
Kyla looked into his eyes. “Do I look like I ever got married? I told you I didn’t marry. Do you know why I never got married?” She asked him, her voice was getting louder.
“No I don’t know why.” Aiden admitted.
“Because I loved you. That’s why and you left me like you didn’t care at all. How am I supposed to feel about that?” Kyla screamed.
Aiden was shocked at the anger that was coming out of her voice. “Look I didn’t know that, how am I supposed to know that?” He asked.
“You should have come and talked to me.” She stated.
“But the last time I saw you why didn’t you say something?” He asked her.
“Because of your friend showing up and he wasn’t leaving. I hoped that you had gotten the hint I wanted to talk to you. But you never sent him away.” Kyla said.
“How is it my fault then? I figured you didn’t or couldn’t marry me. I’m just a blacksmith’s son after all, how could the princess marry me?” Aiden confronted the other issue he felt they were facing.
“Don’t you understand that it wouldn’t matter? If I told my father I loved you that would be enough, he would let me marry just about anyone.” Kyla said.
“What about your mother? You always said she wanted you to marry a prince.” Aiden asked.
“My mother wants me to be happy. She would love for me to marry a prince, but only if he was someone who would bring a smile to my face. We’ve talked a lot in the past few years.” Kyla admitted.
“Will you marry me Kyla Fleming?” Aiden asked. He figured there was no better time than the present to ask. After all they had both just admitted that they loved one another. If she had loved him before, perhaps she still loved him.
“Will you leave me again?” She asked the pain was in her voice.
Aiden took her hand into his. “Kyla I will never leave you again. I am so sorry that I did the first time. It was my fear of not being enough for you that made me run. As long as I know you love me, I will be by your side!” He said to her.